News Briefs From Across The State
By Monica Land
Woman indicted last month for theft of explosives
A 50-year-old Gulfport woman charged in a federal explosives case has died, and two of her brothers wanted out of jail to attend her funeral.
Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove says Lucy Rebecca Saucier died Wednesday, March 14, in Biloxi of natural causes.
Saucier, two of her brothers and two other men, Lance Daniel Looney, 25, and David Eugene Bangs, 48, were indicted in February on a charge of stealing explosives and military-grade munitions from Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg.
The Sun Herald reports attorneys for Jack Bernell “Nobby'' Wilson and Jimmy Lee Wilson have asked a judge to send federal agents to escort them to Saucier's services. The funeral was scheduled for Friday at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home with burial at Beulah Cemetery in Lyman.
Cyclist killed in Bay St. Louis
Police say a Pass Christian woman died when she was struck by a vehicle as she was riding her bicycle.
Hancock County Coroner Jim Faulk tells The Sun Herald 59-year-old Cathleen Keel was pronounced dead at the scene Thursday. Faulk says her death was caused by multiple head wounds.
Bay St. Louis Police Chief Mike DeNardo says Keel was headed south on Mississippi 603 around 7:30 a.m. when she apparently turned in front of the driver, who was also traveling south.
The accident remains under investigation, but DeNardo does not expect charges to be filed against the driver.
Biloxi man arrested after allegedly assaulting officer
Biloxi police arrested Kevin Lee Gibson, 51, after Gibson reportedly assaulted an officer on Sunday, officials said.
According to authorities, the assault happened when officers tried to arrest Gibson for a DUI in the area of Iberville Drive in Biloxi.
No officers were injured, however, Gibson was taken to Biloxi Regional Hospital for minor injuries. Gibson was charged with simple assault on a law enforcement officer and taken to the Harrison County Jail on a $50,000 bond set by Judge Strong.
Hattiesburg schools send out sex ed surveys
Hattiesburg parents will be receiving surveys from the Hattiesburg Public School District asking them whether they favor an abstinence-only or an abstinence-plus sex education curriculum.
Members of the Hattiesburg Public School District Board of Trustees requested the surveys go out by mail to parents of students in grades 6 through 12.
The American reports that the district already has an online survey available to parents and community members, but the school board wanted to make sure all parents were reached, according to school district spokesman Jas N. Smith.
A state law passed by the Legislature in 2011 requires school districts to choose between abstinence-only education and abstinence-plus education by July.
School board members will vote on which policy to use in May
Sheriff to hire nurse for jail
Bolivar County Sheriff Kelvin Williams says he's going through dozens of applications for a full-time nurse at the local jail.
The Bolivar Commercial reports that Williams got approval recently from the board of supervisors to continue with part-time nursing help until he hires someone.
“They work part-time. Right now, they are coming in on evenings and weekends but the needs of the inmates are being met,'' said Williams.
Williams says there was a full-time nurse but she had resigned at the first of last month.
Williams did says he hopes to begin interviews next week.
“We have close to 120 applicants. We want to have a full-time and a part-time nurse but right now we're really focusing on a full-time nurse.
“We have to get this position filled as soon as possible. It's important that we take care of inmate needs and that we stay within American Correction Association and accreditation standards,” Williams said.
